Extension table



May 21, 1940; c. l-. VANCE EXTENSION TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April20, I956 M t a E C. F. VANCE May 21, 1940.-

EXTENSION TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1936 May 21 1940.'- c.F. VANCE EXTENSION TABLE Filed April 20. 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet .5

May 21, 1940. c. F. VANCE EXTENSION TABLE Filed April 20, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet 4 grwo/wtom CHnnLes I. VHNCE Patented May 21, 1940 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 20,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an extension table and more especially to anextension table having a unit assembly structure which can be secured toa table frame. The structure is adapted 8 to support a table topcomprising extensible top sections on each end thereof with anintermediate foldable leaf secured between the top sections and adaptedto fold between the top sections when the top sections are moved tofolded position.

It is an object of this invention to provide an extension table having aunit slide assembly, said assembly being adapted to support on each endthereof a leaf which is adapted to be extended. The unit assembly has apivoted foldable leaf member adapted to occupy a plane disposed belowthe plane occupied by the ex tensible leaf members when they are movedto folded position. The leaf member is adapted to be swung into positionand unfolded to occupy the central portion of the table when theextensible leaf sections are moved to extended position.

It is another object of this invention to pro' vide a unit assembly forextension tables having channel members provided with slides which arepreferably supplied with ball bearing members so that the slides operatevery easily and therefore have no tendency to become locked.

It is stillanother object of this invention to provide a unit assemblyfor extension tables having a pair of parallel channel members adaptedto receive ball bearing slides mounted thereon and with an equalizerdisposed between the slides having racks adapted to engage oppositesides of a pinion disposed in a vertical plane.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a unit assembly forextension tables comprising a unit member having parallel channelmembers with the channels having open portions disposed on the outsideof the channel members with slides mounted in said channel members andadapted to support a table leaf.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional bottom plan view of a table showing theinvention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken along line 2-2 in Figure l;

Figure 3 is an elevation looking at the outside of one of the slideassemblies and showing portions thereof broken away;

1936, Serial No. 75,435

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figure3;

a portion of one of the sides showing the ball bearing and ball cagearrangement;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in Figure3;

Figure 7 is an elevation of the central portion of one of the slides andshowing portions of the rack and pinion equalizing arrangements;

Figure 8 is a plan view of one of the ball cages and showingthe balls inposition;

Figure 9 is an edge view of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an isometric view showing a portion of one of the channelmembers with a portion of the two slides therein and showing the rackand pinion equalizing arrangements;

Figure 11 is an elevation of a modified form of the channel and slideand showing portions thereof broken away;

Figure 12 is vertical sectional view taken along line l2-l2 in Figure11;

Figure 13 is an elevation of .a portion of one of the channels and aslide member showing a slightly modified form;

Figure 14 is a top plan view of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line I5|5 inFigure 13 Figure 16 is a top plan view of one side of slightly modifiedform of a channel and the slides therein;

Figure 17 is a cross sectional view taken along line l'll'! in Figure16;

Figure 18 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line [8-48 inFigure 16; t

Figure 19 is an isometric View of a portion of the structure shown inFigures 16 to 18 inclusive.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numerals H), H, l2 andI3 denote suitable supports or legs for an extension table to which issecured a fascia member M, said fascia member having diagonal struts orbraces I5 and I6 secured to the inner surface thereof at the cornerofthe table. These struts l5 and I6 are also connected to supports ID tol3 inclusive. Secured to the diagonal members [5 and I6 is a transversestrut H to which is secured rails l8 and I 9 of the extension assemblyby any suitable means such as angle members 20. The rails 18 and I9areidentical in all'respects except that they are located in anopposite-hand position with relation to the table. Therefore likereference characters will be applied to corresponding parts with a primenotation added.

In Figure 1 it will be noted that the rail 18 is Figure 5 is alongitudinal sectional view along y formed from two pieces namely, Ushaped member 2! which is secured to transverse struts I! and H and aZ-bar 22, which is welded to the intermediate portion of member 21 toact as a.

bracing reinforcement. The U shaped member 2| has a suitable trackwaytherein in which slides are adapted to operate to which the table topsare secured. The U shaped members 2| and 2! have their ends secured totransverse struts IT and IT by any suitable means such as angle members20. The strut I1 is connected to diagonal members l5 and I6, saiddiagonal'members, in turn, being secured to the leg members- Hi to 3inclusive and also to fascia member [4, all of which are identical tothe parts described for the other side of the table.

The longitudinal U-shaped member or track 2| has raceways 25 and 26 inthe upper and lower flanges thereof, this raceway being substantiallysemi-circular in cross-section. Suitable U- shaped slides 2'! and 27 areadapted to have their flanges fit between thefianges in trackway 2!.Since the members2land 2? are identical with the exception of beingopposite hand, only the member 2i will be described and like referencecharacters will be given to like parts in member 2'! with a primenotation added. Member 2'! has corresponding substantially semi-circularsectioned raceways 28 and29 in the upper and lower flanges thereof whichare disposed opposite the raceways 25and 28 respectively. A pair ofballs 30 and SI are adapted to fit in the raceways previously described,in order to aiford an easy relative movement between the track 2'! andthe track 2 l. The balls 3i and 34 are held in spaced relation to eachother by any suitable means such as a perforated bar 32, said bar beingadapted to fit between the flanges of the U-shaped members 2i and 2'5and hold the balls in spaced rela" tion within the" raceways.

The members 2'! and 21 have secured to the vertical sides thereofsuitable angle members 35 to which end leaves 35 are secured. Thetrackways 2! likewise'have pivotally secured thereto as at 38 and 38'suitable racks 39 and 39' which engage the opposite sides of a suitablepinion Ml, said pinion being located midway between the ends of U-shapedtrackway 2i, and is preferably rotatably supported by the stud 4b, whichextends through adjacent bars 21 and 22 of the outer and inner frames ofthe table, and is a means at such points at least of securing saidframes together as illustrated in Fig. It is evident that when one ofthe end leaves 35 is moved in one direction that the other table topwill be moved in the opposite direction since the two racks, 39 and 39'engage the same pinion on opposed sides thereof.

The Z-bars 22 and 22 are held in spaced relation to each other by anysuitable means such as angle struts 42. In order to hold the members Q2,22 and 22 in their proper position suitable braces 48 are provided ateach end of the members 42. The struts ii. have secured thereto suitablelugs 45 which project downwardly beneath the table and have rotatablymounted in the lower end thereof a rod M, said rod having secured to itsintermediate portion as at 68 a collapsible table top sectioncomprisingtwo members such as 49 which are pivoted to each other by any suitablemeans such as hinges 55.

Another rod 5| is disposed between the members 42 for normallysupporting the free end of the collapsed table top section comprisingmembers 49, when the section is in the position shown in Figure 1.

By referring to Figure 2 it will be noted that the table leaves or topsections 36 are movable since they are connected to the angle members 35whereas, the members Hi to I! inclusive, as well as members 2i are in astationary position. When the table leaves 36 are pulled to an extendedposition the collapsed intermediate table top section ZSl can beunfolded and fitted in its proper position in the center of the table.

Figures 11 and 12 show a slightly modified form in which instead ofhaving the members 21 with upper and lower continuous raceways 2B and29, a U-shaped track member Bil is provided in lieu thereof said memberhaving suitable cavities 6i and 62 in the upper and lower edges thereofin which are adapted to fit suitable balls 63 and 64 respectively. Theseballs also fit in suitable raceways 25 and 26 in the member N. form theballs 63 and fi l are held in practically the same relative positionwith relation to the member til at all times since they are placed insuitable cavities. When a type of construction similar to this isprovided, it is not necessary to have a spacer bar 32 such as shown inFigures 8 and 9.

Figures 13, i l and 15 show a modified form of construction of the siderails of an extension table which is particularly adaptable for, use onlarge tables having avery wide extension. In this form a pair ofU-shaped members l6 and H are provided having horizontally extendingflanges with the backs of their vertical web being secured to eachother. The horizontal flanges of member is have raceways l2 and (3respectively in the upper and lower flanges in which are adapted to fita ball assembly comprising members 3t, 35 and $2 such as shown in Figure9. These balls are also adapted to fit in suitable raceways M1 anddisposed in the horizontal flanges of a U-shaped movable rack member 16.Welded to the vertical web of U-shaped member H5 is an angle member Tlto which the table top is secured.

The member ll is identical in structure to the member it! said memberhaving upper and lower raceways l9 and Bi! respectively in the flangesthereof in which the ball assembly shown in Figures 8 and 9 is adaptedto fit. 35 similar to member 76 just described, has upper and lowerraceways 82 and 83, which raceways cooperate with raceways l9 and. 8!!to accommodate the ball assembly.

Angle member B is welded to the vertical web of U-shaped member 85 whichcooperates with angle member H in supporting the top sections of thetable. However, it should be stated that the angle member l? supportsone edge of the table top on one side of the table whereas the anglemember 8'3 supports one edge of the table top on the other end of thetable.

Rotatably mounted midway the ends of channel members 70 and H is apinion 85 which is adapted to be engaged by racks 86 cut in the verticalweb of U-shaped members lb and ti. Since the racks 85 in members it andill engage the pinion on opposed sides an equalizing effect is obtained,that is, the, movement of angle member T1 in one direction will producea movement in the opposite direction of angle member 841.

The raceways l2 and 73 in member 78 are closed as at 87 to prevent theball assembly from escaping therefrom. Likewise raceways l9 and ofmember H are closed as at 88 to pre- In this Another member vent theescapement of the ball assembly from these raceways.

Figures 16 to 19 inclusive show another modified form in which anintermediate U-shaped section 89 has welded to each end thereof suitabletrackways 90 and 99', both of said trackways 99 and 99' being identical,therefore, like reference char acters will apply with the prime notationadded to the trackway 99.

The trackway 99 has upper and lower horizontal flanges in which arelocated suitable raceways 93 and 94, which raceways are adapted toaccommodate a suitable ball assembly comprising balls 95 and 99 disposedin a bar 91. The balls 95 and 96 are also adapted to fit in another pairof raceways 98 and 99 disposed in the upper and lower horizontal flangesof U-shaped slide member I90. The member it! has pivotally securedthereto as at Nil a'rack H92 said rack H32 being adapted to engage apinion I93. The pinion I03 is rotatably mounted on a bolt Hi4 which bolthas also mounted thereon a washer which is approximately of the samediameter as that of the pinion I93. This washer assists in holding therack member I92 in mesh with the pinion I93 at all times.

It will be noted by referring to the drawings that the raceways 93 and9d are closed as at it! and I08 to prevent the ball assembly comprisingmembers 95, 96 and 9'! from escaping from the ends thereof. Likewise theright-hand end of raceways 98 and 99 are closed to prevent the ballsfrom escaping from the right-hand of these raceways. The left-hand endsof the raceways 9? and 98 are closed in a similar manner to that shownin the right-hand end of this member. It is not necessary to close theleft-hand ends of the raceways 93 and 94 since the left-hand ends of theraceways 98 and 99 are closed and also since the slide I99 cannot beclosed far enough to cause the ball assembly to escape from the upperand lower grooves 93 and 94.

The U-shaped track member 90 has a suitable angle lug H0 welded to thevertical web portion thereof which is adapted. to engage another anglemember I l I which is welded to the movable trackway Hi0 when the member[09 has been extended a predetermined amount, the lug H0 and anglemember Ml constituting stops, which, when they come together, preventfurther extension of the table. Secured to the vertical web of slide "10is an angle member M2 to which the table top is attached.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth inthe appended claim.

I claim:

An extension table including a main supporting frame, channels extendingfrom end to end thereof and having their ends rigidly secured to theopposite ends of the frame, and constituting a part of the mainsupporting frame, slides telescopically connected with the outer ends ofthe channels, table leaves secured to these slides, and an inner frameof rectangular form fitted between the channels, the adjacent sides ofwhich inner frame are rigidly secured to the inner sides of the centralportions of the channels, whereby to brace and reinforce the latterthroughout the width of the space between the table leaves when they areextended.

CHARLES F. VANCE.

